Rapid photographic processor

ABSTRACT

A SELF-THREADING CONTINUOUS FLOW PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING SYSTEM CONSISTING OF ALTERNATIVELY LOCATED ROLLER PAIRS AND CHEMICAL TREATING MODULES. THE ROLLER PAIRS DRIVE THE FILM THROUGH THE CHEMICAL TREATING MODULES AND INTO A FILM DRIED. EACH CHEMICAL TREATING MODULE HAS A NARROW TAPERED PROCESSING CHAMBER WITH RESILIENT LIP SEALS AT THE FILM ENTRANCE AND EXIT. THE TAPERED PROCESSING CHAMBER IS LOCATED ABOVE THE FILM PATH AND HAS FLUID INGRESS MEANS AND FLUID EGRESS MEANS TO SUPPLY PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING REAGENTS TO DEVELOP THE FILM. THE LIP SEALS AND A SURFACE TENSION CONTACT SEAL SET UP BETWEEN THE FILM BEING PROCESSED AND THE TAPERED CHAMBER RESULT IN A RELATIVELY SPILLPROOF CHAMBER.

S. KITROSSER RAPID PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSOR I Nov. 9, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1969 FIG. I.

SAMUEL K/TROSSE/P INVENTOR BY C,

ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1971 I s. KITROSSER 3,618,506

- RAPID PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSOR Filed June 26, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I DRYER N i Q I 5 k "S I (\J I v \l I g wJa I k I TT/ Y R: Q

SAMUEL K/T/iOSSEf? INVENTY m WRITING STATION ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,618,506 RAPID PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSOR Samuel Kitrosser, Lexington, Mass., assignor to Itek Corporation, Lexington, Mass. Filed June 26, 1969, Ser. No. 836,894 Int. Cl. G03d 3/00 U.S. CI. 95-89 R 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-threading continuous flow photographic processing system consisting of alternately located roller pairs and chemical treating modules. The roller pairs drive the film through the chemical treating modules and into a film dried. Each chemical treating module has a narrow tapered processing chamber with resilient lip seals at the film entrance and exit. The tapered processing chamber is. located above the film path and has fluid ingress means and fluid egress means to supply photographic processing reagents to develop the film. The lip seals and a surface tension contact seal set up between the film being processed and the tapered chamber result in a relatively spillproof chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in continuous flow film processors, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved rapid photographic processing module wherein the film being processed travels through a thin processing chamber.

In the field of rapid photographic processing it has been known to utilize a processor wherein a surface tension contact seal is set up between the film being processed and the processor to permit operation of the processor in nonlevel positions. This processor, however, is a complex piece of equipment in which each frame of film is intermittently clamped over a processing platen. While in the clamped position the film is respectively treated by a developing reagent, a fixing reagent and a washing solution. This prior art processor is complex in nature, intermittent in operation and cumbersome to set up and operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a self-threading, continuous flow rapid photographic processor in modular form. The modular and self-threading features allow versatile operation and simplified installation or interchangeability with existing photographic and data handling systems. The construction of the processing module is such that manufacture should be simple and inexpensive. A surface tension contact seal is formed with the processing solution between the emulsion side of the film and a thin chamber located above the film within the processing module. The thin processing chamber allows a continuous interface between the processing fluid and the film, while forming a surface tension contact seal in the processor to prevent. spillage or leakage of processing solution when the processor assumes other than level positions. This feature is particularly important when processing is being carried out in nonstationary positions, such as on a rolling ship or in a moving aircraft. The thin chamber also allows processing to occur with the consumption of only small amounts of processing fluid. The processing chamber is tapered, and resilient lip seals at the film entrance and exit passageways are positioned at an oblique angle relative to the film path to enable roller pairs to thread the film strip through the processing chamber. Processing fluid may be supplied to the module in pulses to provide convenient metering of the processing fluid flow. The tapered chamber maintains a supply of processing fluid in the chamber when the fluid supply is pulsed by permitting the surface tension contact seal to advance or recede with the taper of the chamber as the supply of fluid varies within a pulsing cycle. The processing fluid may be pumped through the chamber in a direction counter to the film travel to facilitate circulation of the solution about the emulsion side of the film.

These and other features of the present invention will become apparent upon a perusal of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded bottom view taken from behind the processing module showing the interrelationship of the components of the module.

FIG. 2 is a side front view of the processing module which illustrates film being fed through the processing unit by entrance and exit rollers.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a total processing system utilizing the processing modules.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is an exploded bottom view taken from behind the processing module 10 showing the interrelationship of the various components which form the processor. The film 11 is shown threaded between the processor top section 12 and the processor bottom section 14, both of which may be constructed of plastic. A seal 16, which may be an elastomeric material, is positioned between the top and bottom sections to seal the processor along areas 17. The seal 16 has an extended tab 18 which wraps back around a sloped entrance lip 19, the position of the sloped lip 19 being illustrated in FIG. 2. The top and bottom sections are secured together via four screws 20, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1, which are positioned at the four corners of the processing module. The top section 12 has a thin chamber 26 in it with a taper 28 to form the film processing chamber. The thin processing chamber allows a continuous interface between the processing fluid and the film, while forming a surface tension contact seal in the processor to prevent spillage or leakage of processing solution when the processor assumes other than level positions. The thin chamber also allows processing to occur with the consumption of only small amounts of processing fluid. The chamber is sealed at its entrance by canted seal 22 and at its exit by canted seal 24, both of which may be constructed of an elastomeric material. During operation of the processing module, the entrance and exit seals are wetted with processing fluid, so they present little resistance to film travel and do not scratch the emulsion side of the film. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the direction of film travel is from left to right so the canted seals 22 and 24 and the taper 28 of the chamber 26 all aid in making the processing module self-threading. Once film is introduced to the entrance of the module it readily threads itself through to the exit. Processing fluid is fed into the developing chamber 26 through a fluid ingress means 30 and 32 and travels the length of the chamber to fluid egress means 34 and 36. In an alternate embodiment, the fluid egress means might be the apertures formed by the film entrance and film exit. Fluid ingress means 32 is an aperture which is elongated in the direction of film travel. The elongated shape prevents a film strip from catching in the aperture when the film is initially being threaded through the processing module. In a preferred embodiment, the processing fluid is periodically pulsed through the processing module under low pressure at a pulse rate of several strokes per minute. A pulsed supply provides a convenient method of metering the rate of replenishment of the processing fluid. The processing fluid may flow with or opposite the direction of film travel, depending upon the particular treatment being given to the film. A counter flow of processing fluid facilitates circulation of the fluid about the emulsion side of the film.

A metal plate 40 having dimples 42 may, in an alternate embodiment, be positioned within the chamber 26. The metal plate would serve as a heat sink to keep the temperature of the processing fluid relatively constant, and fluid flow would be from the fluid ingress means to the right edge of the metal plate as illustrated in FIG. 2 and then along the plate to the left edge and out the fluid egress means 36. The dimples 42 would serve to evenly distribute the processing fluid across the area of the metal plate to ensure an even distribution of processing fluid about the film being processed. Alternatively, a heat supply such as an electric heater or circulated hot water might be utilized to maintain the temperature of the processing fluid relatively constant.

The chamber 26 is tapered to aid in the self-threading feature of the processing module and also to provide a continuous surface tension contact seal within the module. In the preferred embodiment, processing fluid is pulsed through the processing module, and the tapered chamber maintains the surface tension contact seal if the supply of processing fluid varies within a pulsing cycle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the processing module which illustrates film being fed through the module by entrance and exit rollers. The film 11 is fed through a pair of entrance rollers 46, into the processor 10, and out through a pair of exit rollers 46 which may be squeegee type rollers to wipe any remaining processing solution from the film. A side view of the canted entrance and exit seals 22 and 24 is also shown to further illustrate their location. Side profiles of the sloped entrance lip 19 of the bottom section 14 and sloped entrance lip 21 of the top section 12 are also shown. These sloped entrance lips contribute to the self-threading feature of the processing module.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a typical processing system utilizing the processing modules. Film is exposed in writing station 48, which may be a camera, and passes into developing station 50 which is comprised of a module 10. The film then passes through a second set of rollers 46 and into fixing station 52 which is also a processing module 10. Thereafter, the film passes through a third set of rollers 46 from whence it passes into washing station 54 which is also a processing module 10. The completely processed film then passes through a fourth set of rollers 46 into a drying station 56 and finally into a reading station 58, which might be a projector. The processing modules 10 are thus used at consecutive stations for respectively developing, fixing and washing the film which is being processed.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A film processing station comprising:

(a) fluid ingress means in the processing station for supplying processing fluid to the station;

(b) means for providing processing fluid under pressure to said fluid ingress means as film is processed in the station;

(c) film entrance means in the processing station for allowing film to be introduced into the station;

(d) film exit means in the processing station for allowing film to be withdrawn from the station after processing;

(e) means for continuously feeding film into said film entrance means and through the processing station during processing of a length of film; and

(f) means, comprising a thin processing chamber tapered in height along its length with the larger height of the thin processing chamber being adjacent to said film entrance means, for forming a surface "tension contact seal between processing fluid and the chamber to allow a continuous interface between the processing fluid and the film during processing of the film while impeding the flow of processing fluid from the chamber, and whereby the taper of the thin processing chamber provides a lesser impedance to processing fluid flowing out of the processing chamber through said film entrance means and a greater impedance to processing fiuid flowing out of the process: ing chamber through said film exit means, and further allows the film processing station to be self-threaded.

2. A processing station for processing film in a continuous fashion, and including:

(a) means, comprising a thin processing chamber in the station, for forming a surface tension contact seal between processing fluid and the chamber, thereby allowing a continuous interface between the processing fluid and the film being processed while impeding the flow of processing fluid from the processing chamber;

(b) fluid ingress means in the processing station for supplying processing fluid to said processing chamber;

(c) means for supplying processing fluid under pressure to said fluid ingress means as film is being processed in said processing chamber;

(d) film entrance means to said processing chamber,

said film entrance means and processing chamber providing impedance to processing fluid flowing out of the processing chamber through the film entrance means, whereby fluid being supplied from said fluid ingress means flows to said film entrance means to lubricate the film entrance means and uniformly wet the film across its width as it enters the processing chamber to promote uniform processing across the width of the film;

(e) film exit means from said processing chamber, said film exit means and processing chamber providing an impedance to processing fluid flowing out of the processing chamber through the film exit means which impedance is higher than the impedance of said film entrance means, whereby the higher impedance of the film exit means will cause fluid to flow against the direction of film travel through the processing chamber to said film entrance means, and the film exit means will be lubricated by fluid carried to it by the film in spite of its higher impedance; and

(f) means for continuously feeding film through said processing chamber during processing of a length of film.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said thin processing chamber is tapered in height along its length with the larger height of the processing chamber being adjacent to said film entrance means, whereby the taper of the thin processing chamber provides a lesser impedance to processing fluid flowing out of the processing chamber through the film entrance means and a greater impedance to processing fluid flowing out of the processing chamber through the film exit means, and also allows the film processing station to be self-threading.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said film entrance means includes a flap seal which is positioned to form an acuate angle with the path over which the film is fed, and wherein said film exit means includes a flap seal which is positioned to form an acute angle with the path over which the film is fed, whereby each of said flap seals further enables the film processing station to be self-threaded.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said processing station is constructed in the form of a module.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said film processing station includes stabilizing means for ensuring constancy of temperature of the processing fluid in the film processing station, said stabilizing means including a diinpled metal plate located in said thin processing chamber adjacent to the film being fed through said chamber, the metal plate acting as a heat sink to ensure constancy of temperature and the dimples onsaid plate ensuring an even distribution of processing fluid adjacent the film in the processing station.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said film processing station is located in a processing system having a series of said film processing stations which are located in-line along a straight line for sequentially processing the film through each consecutive processing station in the series; and

(h) each processing station includes means for performing a different processing step on the film being processed, whereby a length of film is fed continuously through said in-line series of film processing StdliOIlS and each film processing station performs aditterent processing step on the film to completely process the film.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said thin processing chamber is tapered in height along its length with the larger height of the processing chamber being adjacent to said film entrance means, whereby the taper of the thin processing chamber provides a lesser impedance to processing fluid flowing out of the processing chamber through the film entrance means and a greater impedance to processing fluid flowing out of the processing chamber through the film exit means, and also allows the film processing station to be self-threading.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said film entrance means includes a,flap seal which is positioned to form an acute angle with the path over which the film is fed, and wherein said film exit means includes a flap seal which is positioned to form an acute angle with the path over which the film is fed, whereby each of said flap seals further enables the film processing station to be selfthreading.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein each processing station is constructed in the form of a module.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein each film processing station includes stabilizing means for ensuring constancy of temperature of the processing fluid in the film processing station, said stabilizing means including a dimpled metal plate located in said thin processing chamber adjacent to the film being fed through said chamber, the metal plate acting as a heat sink to ensure constancy of temperature and the dimples on said plate ensuring an even distribution of processing fluid adjacent the film in the processing station.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,681 10/1947 Pratt et al -94 3,095,798 7/1963 Kelly 95--94 3,149,550 9/1964 Lohse et a1 9589 3,372,630 3/1968 Schmidt 95-89 X JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner K. C. HUTCHISON, Assistant Examiner 

